Be professional – Alabi to public workers

Public sector workers should exhibit the highest sense of professionalism in their line of duty, Dean of the Centre for International Education and Collaboration at the University of Professional Studies, Accra (UPSA), Professor Goski Alabi, has said.

According to her, the phenomenon where public sector workers, especially auditors, cover up misappropriations, is an insult to the profession.

Speaking at the maiden UPSA Alumni lecture on corruption and sustainable leadership, the Professor of Quality Management and Leadership said workers ought to stick to the ethics of their jobs and not be afraid to state their professional opinion on matters.

“All you need to do is to pick your pen and paper and put a professional opinion in a very polite way to the boss who is asking you to do what you don’t believe in,” she emphasised, adding: “At the end of the day, that piece of paper will always speak for you”.

She encouraged workers not to be intimidated by their superiors or get coerced into corrupt acts, but remain firm. “No one can force you to do what you don’t want to do”.

For her, being professional and not bending the rules will “put the fear of God in that boss who wants to intimidate you with his or her position” to do the wrong things.